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New Hammonton superintendent outlines summer programs, construction work and staffing ahead of fall
Summary
Ramsey Cruz, in his first superintendent’s report after 11 days on the job, told the board the district’s summer academic and athletic programs are active, construction on an ECEC addition and athletic facilities is on schedule, and administrators are finalizing hires before the Aug. 29 start date.
Ramsey Cruz, the newly installed superintendent of the Hammonton School District, gave his first superintendent’s report at the July 11 board meeting, saying he has “hit the ground running” since taking the post 11 days ago.
Cruz told the board that Advanced Placement summer meetings have begun at Hammonton High School and that summer programs at the ECEC West, middle and high school are operating. He described “summer workouts” for fall, winter and spring athletics and summer music instruction, and said administrators and teachers are refining curriculum to align with evolving state standards in advance of the Aug. 29 first day of school.
“Even though it’s technically summer vacation, our students, teachers, supervisors, administrators, and Board of Education members have been working extremely hard,” Cruz said.
Cruz updated the board on construction projects across the district, including the ECEC addition, new tennis courts and a new track. He said the projects are on schedule and that administrators are addressing change-orders and punch-list items as work continues. President Lyons added that the board will consider change orders at the meeting, including expanding the summer scope to renovate the middle school fire-alarm system, funded from capital-reserve accounts, with the goal of completing the work before school starts.
Cruz and board members also described outreach visits to local youth organizations, including a flag-football program that serves approximately 500 children and a swim club where about 110 children participate. Board members said the district is exploring a cooperative arrangement with a neighboring district to enable Hammonton students to compete on a swim team this winter under an NJSIAA co-op format.
The superintendent and board emphasized hiring activity: administrators are completing master schedules and interviewing candidates to fill vacant positions, and revised contract language agreed by the board’s negotiation team allows the district to hire mid-career teachers. Several newly hired staff were later introduced at the meeting and offered brief remarks.
The board scheduled a special meeting for July 18 to consider matters that may arise before the regular August work, with both an open and an executive session planned.
